Yes, you should remove your data from the internet - and our favorite service is 55% off

2026-05-29 · Source: News and Advice on the World's Latest Innovations | ZDNET · Field: Technology & Digital — Cybersecurity & Data Privacy · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, quick

Summary

The article highlights the importance of removing Personally Identifiable Information (PII) from data brokers, noting that such data collection is often intrusive and occurs without consent. It recommends Incogni as an effective data removal service, which automates the challenging and time-consuming process of sending recurring deletion requests to over 420 data broker sites. Manually managing this is impractical due to frequent data re-acquisition. Incogni's standard plan, typically priced at \$7.99 per month or \$191.76 annually, is currently available at a 55% discount using the code ZDNET, reducing the yearly cost to \$86.29. ZDNET rates this deal 4/5, praising the service for its efficiency and monthly reports detailing saved hours, and expects the offer to remain active through 2026.

Key takeaway

For individuals concerned about their Personally Identifiable Information (PII) being collected and shared by data brokers, using an automated data removal service like Incogni is a practical solution. You can save 55% on an Incogni subscription, reducing the annual cost to \$86.29 with code ZDNET, to continuously manage your online privacy and reduce the significant time commitment of manual removal.

Key insights

Data removal services like Incogni automate the complex, ongoing process of removing PII from data brokers, enforcing privacy laws.

Principles

• PII is often collected without consent.
• Manual data removal is time-consuming.
• Data brokers frequently re-acquire information.

Method

Data removal services send recurring requests to data brokers, enforcing data protection laws to delete and prevent re-acquisition of Personally Identifiable Information.

In practice

• Use Incogni for automated PII removal.
• Apply code ZDNET for 55% off.
• Review monthly removal reports.

Topics

• Data Privacy
• PII Removal
• Data Brokers
• Incogni
• Online Security
• Consumer Deals

Best for: General Interest, IT Professional

Related on AIssential

• The best data removal services of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed — Automated data removal services are crucial for managing personal information exposed by data brokers and online breaches.
• Perplexity's "Incognito Mode" is a "sham," lawsuit says — Perplexity is accused of secretly sharing sensitive user chat data, including PII, with Google and Meta, even in "Incognito Mode."
• I tried to wipe my digital footprint without paying for a data removal service - 5 free ways — Personal data is legally aggregated by brokers, requiring a fragmented, multi-step process for removal.
• You can tell Google Search to remove your personal IDs and explicit images now - but there's a catch — Google now allows users to request removal of government IDs and explicit images from search results.
• Introducing OpenAI Privacy Filter — OpenAI's Privacy Filter offers context-aware PII detection and redaction via a small, efficient, open-weight model.
• Meta cuts contractors who reported seeing Ray-Ban Meta users have sex — Public disclosure of privacy breaches by contractors can lead to contract termination and regulatory scrutiny.

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by News and Advice on the World's Latest Innovations | ZDNET.